FST Lisboa, the Formula Student team at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, has once again distinguished itself internationally by ranking among the world’s leading university teams in the recently published Formula Student World Ranking. The highlight of the 2025 season was the team’s achievement of 8th place worldwide in the Driverless category, out of 62 ranked teams, underscoring its technical excellence in this area, complemented by a 15th place in the Electric Vehicle category, among 480 teams, reflecting consistent performance across the main international competitions on the circuit.
During the 2025 season, FST Lisboa competed in several leading international competitions, facing some of the most experienced teams in Europe and worldwide. At Formula Student Germany (FSG), the team achieved 9th place in the Electric Vehicle category and 24th place in the Driverless category, competing in an international event that brought together dozens of teams from around the world and where the technical and competitive standards are particularly high.
On a national level, FST Lisboa once again demonstrated its competitive consistency by becoming the three-time champion of Formula Student Portugal (FSPT). At Formula Student Spain (FSS), the Técnico team recorded one of its most remarkable performances of the season, securing 6th place in the Electric Vehicle category and 2nd place in the Driverless category, which was decisive for FST Lisboa’s final position in the world ranking and confirmed the project’s competitiveness in the areas of electrification and autonomy.
“Participation in these competitions required a high level of technical and organisational rigour, from the conception and development of the vehicle to its validation in competitive environments”, says Maria Bastos, a member of the team. The students involved in the project worked intensively on optimising the FST14, balancing academic rigour with the practical application of knowledge in mechanical, electrical, computer engineering, and management disciplines.
The recognition now achieved has a particular significance in a milestone year for the team, which celebrates 25 years of activity. “Throughout this journey, FST Lisboa has established itself as a flagship educational project at Instituto Superior Técnico, promoting innovation, teamwork, and technical excellence through participation in international university automotive engineering competitions”, adds Maria.
The team is already developing the FST15, with the goal of “strengthening the prototype’s consistency and reliability throughout the season”. This year, the priority is “to consolidate the team’s performance across all competitions, ensuring solid and sustained results while maintaining high technical standards in the areas of electrification and autonomous driving”.
The partnership with VINCI Energies Portugal, the project’s main sponsor, has played a central role in consolidating the project, while Instituto Superior Técnico continues to provide the academic framework and institutional support that enable students to consolidate knowledge, apply practical skills, and develop highly complex projects with international recognition.
